ALBANY — The state is considering changes to the number of deer hunting permits in parts of Albany and Schenectady counties for the first time in nearly two decades.

Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife biologists have a task force that is studying potential changes to deer permits in the town of Niskayuna, part of the town of Rotterdam and the city of Schenectady in Schenectady County and portions of the Albany County towns of Guilderland, New Scotland, Bethlehem and Coeymans.

The last time DEC looked at this area was 1995, when it set a goal of reducing the local deer numbers by 35 percent.

Another DEC task force has already recommended a 10 percent cut in the deer population of another section of the Capital Region that includes the Pine Bush Preserve, parts of the towns of Guilderland, Bethlehem and New Scotland as well as the city of Albany and town of Colonie.

Because the area is highly populated, only archery hunting is allowed.

DEC spokesman Rick Georgeson said that the agency would likely reach that goal by issuing more deer hunting permits. When the last study was done for this area in 1997, DEC bumped up hunting permits by 25 percent after finding that too many deer were damaging suburban plants and shrubs.

The task force studying the deer populations of Albany and Schenectady areas is taking public comments through Saturday. Comments can me made through r4wildlife@gw.dec.state.ny.us or Karl Parker, DEC Region 4, 1130 North Westcott Road Schenectady, NY 12306.